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THOMAS Carol
In Impact community Society, Latest, Local democracy

Workshop

Workship in Israel - News 2023

A workshop for better community resilience in Israel

The Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will be hosting an international resilience workshop in May 2023. During three days, participants will learn about Israeli concepts and models of emergency preparedness and community resilience.
 
Individuals, families, businesses, and institutions that are prepared for tackling disasters are more likely to cope efficiently – and to recover faster. Such training reduces the risks of damage to critical infrastructure, lessens economic losses and softens the emotional impact of the catastrophe on the population.
 
Once the steps of immediate emergency response are implemented, it is up to local leadership and the municipality’s services to provide and facilitate all the necessary recovery measures. By supporting citizens and the community’s institutions, local authorities can help restore and strengthen the community’s cohesion.
 
To help communities face emergency situations better, the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel will organize an international community resilience workshop in the coastal city of Nahariya (Israel) from 17 to 19 May 2023. During the event, participants will learn about concepts and methods from experts in the fields of welfare, social work, psychology and urban security. The initiative aims to provide participants with helpful Israeli models of preparedness and resilience that have been field-tested in real emergency situations.
 
For more information on this initiative, visit the website of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel.

GAUDRON Marine
In Impact community Cohesion, Latest

Cohesion Alliance

Cohesion Alliance - News 2023

Only a strong Cohesion Policy can ensure a united and fairer future to the EU

​The new #CohesionAlliance gets into gear to shape the future of the main investment policy of the EU.

The key challenges and future objectives of Cohesion Policy were the main focus of the high-level event organised by the #CohesionAlliance on 16 March. The EU-wide coalition of 12,000 signatories advocating for a stronger Cohesion Policy launched two calls addressed to European local and regional authorities to collect their feedback on the future role and design of cohesion policy, and to showcase the unique role of this policy in supporting cities’ and regions’ development in every corner of Europe. 
​
The #CohesionAlliance is a joint movement of like-minded representatives cities and regions and their associations, and of social partners and civic society representatives that advocate cohesion as a fundamental value of the EU and plead for a strong Cohesion Policy beyond 2027. After the successful campaign to secure a central role for Cohesion Policy in the 2021-27 EU long-term budget – which brought together more than 12,000 signatories, 140 regions, 137 cities and counties, 50 associations of regional and local governments, many Members of the European Parliament and 35 EU sectoral associations – the #CohesionAlliance is now ready for a new challenge.

Today’s event kicks off the reflection process of the new Cohesion Alliance on the future of Cohesion Policy, which will bring together key stakeholders, regional and local representatives, EU and national institutions, in order to make the policy stronger, simpler, more effective and result-oriented now and in the future.

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), stated: ” If we break Cohesion Policy, we may still have a European Union, but it will not move forward the same way. The objectives of Cohesion Policy are always territorial, economic and social cohesion, but the context has changed. When we talk about migration and integration of refugees, or about energy transition, just to name two challenges, it is always cohesion that is at stake. We need to adapt Cohesion Policy and update it, but it is very important to not become hostage of the discussion about money only. The question should always be what kind of solution we want to face the challenges in front of us. Cohesion Policy is the answer. I invite you all to join the Cohesion Alliance, because this is about what kind of Europe we want in the future .”

Younous Omarjee, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee for regional development, said: ” Cohesion Policy is a cornerstone policy of the European Union, it brings Europe together. The new generation of funds is meant to help regions to achieve the green and digital transition, and to reduce development gaps in the EU. For the future, we want to strengthen this policy to face the major challenges: energy and industrial sovereignty, adaptation to climate change, demographic crisis .”

Elisa Ferreira, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, addressed the #CohesionAlliance partners via a video message: ” We have now started the reflection on the future of Cohesion Policy and we are carrying out a deepened discussion on the achievements and the way forward. I count on the Cohesion Alliance to make a substantial contribution to this important discourse, as well as on activating the communities that they represent to speak up! We have to spread the word on the successes of the Policy, the empowerment that it brought to EU regions and municipalities and to the transformations possible thanks to Cohesion Policy investments. Let’s discuss what and how could be improved, as we are entering this new period 2021-2027, and looking beyond, so that the Policy remains the powerful pull holding Europe together and reminding us of a joint destiny! ” she said.

Emil Boc, Chair of the CoR’s Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and Budget ( COTER ) and Mayor of Cluj-Napoca (RO) said: ” With today’s meeting we have launched a reflection process of the Cohesion Alliance that will continue throughout the year and that will enable us to position the Alliance on the question of how Cohesion Policy should be shaped in the future. However, it is also crucial that this reflection process is as inclusive as possible and that all of those who are interested in a future with a strong and effective Cohesion Policy for all regions have a possibility to provide us with their input .”

Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of the Association of European Border Regions ( AEBR ) and member of the Parliament of the German-speaking Community in Belgium, said: ” Cohesion Policy improves the development of all territories, including particularly those handicapped due to their location and other circumstances. It facilitates their cooperation adding an enormous value in terms of functionality. Without Cohesion and cooperation, the disadvantages of these territories would only grow and consolidate .”

Adrián Ariel Zittelli Ferrari, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions ( CPMR) political representative, Director-General for European Union Affairs for the Region of Murcia, said: ” Many of Europe’s current and upcoming challenges are linked to territorial circumstances on the ground, and vary from region to region. Cohesion policy should offer opportunities and support to all citizens regardless of their location, and help them fully participate in European development and the single market. Therefore, Cohesion Policy should be maintained as the main investment policy for all regions in the EU . “

The European Committee of the Regions has started its political debate on the matter and appointed President Cordeiro and the Chair of the COTER Commission Boc as co-rapporteurs of an opinion on the future of cohesion policy after 2027.


More info:

The #CohesionAlliance launched two calls for contribution targeting local and regional authorities in Europe:

  • a broad consultation to receive feedback on the future role and design of cohesion policy. Respondents can access the consultation and send their contribution here.
  • a call for Cohesion Local Stories to showcasing how cohesion policy has a unique role to support cities’ and regions’ development. Respondents can send their contributions via this link. The stories will be then used for the campaign and published on the Cohesion Alliance’s website.


If you want to stay up to date with all the activities of the #CohesionAlliance and the latest development on cohesion policy, you can sign up to receive the new #CohesionAlliance newsletter here.

Contact:

CohesionAlliance@cor.europa.eu

GRIFFON Axelle
In Energy, Impact community Climate, Latest

EU Energy Performance

EU Energy Performance - News 2023

Buildings directive: a huge deal for local governments

When the European Commission published its proposal for a recast of the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive more than a year ago, few anticipated the scope and breadth of its revamp on citizens and local governments.

Now that the directive has been endorsed by the European Parliament, what can we expect from it? And what impact will it have on local governments? We’ve looked into these questions of major importance to municipalities, cities and regions.

The European Green Deal moving forward

The revision of the directive – also known as the EPBD – takes place in the context of the ‘European Green Deal’, which aims to put the EU firmly on the path towards climate neutrality by 2050.

To this end, in 2021, the von der Leyen Commission put on the table its so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package, a mammoth law package of energy and climate laws aimed at reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

It is against this backdrop that the European Commission decided to revise upwards the Union’s energy performance of buildings targets. As stated by the Commission, buildings in the EU are responsible for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. And almost 75% of the building stock is energy inefficient… The renovation awaiting it is immense given the millions of old buildings across Europe.

The transition to zero-emissions buildings

The introduction of the ‘zero-emission building’ (ZEB) definition in the revised EPBD is of key importance, as it refers to the new ‘A’ energy performance class. From 2028 onwards, all new buildings will have to be zero emission. According to the adopted text, new buildings must achieve the highest level of energy performance, thanks to moderate consumption and heating powered by decarbonised energy.

CEMR believes that, while it is important to focus on the energy performance of buildings, reconfiguring the whole energy system is also needed for a net zero future.

Minimum energy performance standards

According to the text, public buildings will have to achieve at least energy performance class E by 2027, and D by 2030 (Commission proposed F and E). In addition, all new buildings occupied, operated or owned by public authorities should be zero-emission from 2026.

This is a big blow for local and regional governments who will now have to renovate in droves. CEMR considers these targets too ambitious and unrealistic, even for the most advanced municipalities and regions.

While increasing the rate of renovations of energy-inefficient buildings is essential, CEMR believes it is unlikely that all class “E”, “F” and “G” buildings will be renovated by 2030.

All measures needed to achieve these targets will be established by each Member State in national renovation plans. To take into account EU countries’ diverse building stocks, the letter G will correspond to the 15% worst-performing buildings in the national stock.

For CEMR, this proposal is questionable since the EU’s energy efficiency classification system is made regardless of the initial situation concerning the quality of the buildings. In the Nordic countries, for example, a large proportion of the building stock scores high on the EU’s energy efficiency scale due to the climatic conditions.

However, in light of the heated exchanges taking place in EU capitals, it is not clear whether the minimum energy performance standards will survive mounting opposition from the Member States.

The ‘neighbourhood’ approach

The ‘neighbourhood’ approach, as opposed to individual buildings, is only mentioned twice in the proposal and therefore falls far short of its potential. This novel approach to buildings sees them as part of a broader neighbourhood rather than isolated units. By doing so, substantial economies of scale can be generated.

In CEMR’s view, the ‘neighbourhood’ approach should be reinforced in the legislation. CEMR however welcomes the possibility for Member States to grant regional and local authorities the possibility to identify “neighbourhoods” for the implementation of integrated renovation programmes.

Next steps

While the Parliament adopted its position by 343 votes to 216, with 78 abstentions, MEPs will now enter into negotiations with the Council to agree on the final shape of the bill.

CEMR will keep on monitoring developments, exchanging with its members and engaging with the EU institutions to ensure a smooth implementation of the directive on the ground. While in the short term, considerable resources will be required, in the medium and long term, the energy performance of buildings will greatly reduce energy bills.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

International Women’s Day

International Women's Day - News 2023

International Women’s Day: Let’s talk about human rights!

Dr. Claudia Schöning-Kalender, Member of the SPD-parliamentary group in Mannheim City Council (Germany) and chair of the CEMR Standing Committee for Equality calls on EU institutions to “effectively translate words into action” on gender equality.

Women feature prominently in Greek mythology as heroines, goddesses, and warriors. The reality for them in ancient Greece was that they had few rights and were largely deprived of political voice and agency. This incongruity doesn’t prevent ancient Athens from being frequently cited as the cradle of democratic societies despite the lack of equal rights and representation for half of its people. Throughout history, women have been considered as second-class citizens and even denied their humanity.

Times have changed since Ancient Greece, but it would be mistaken to think that development for the better is straightforward or linear. Europe has been through terrible wars and progress is frequently punctuated by setbacks in social and political life. This is sadly true for women’s rights as well.

In the course of history, we also witness that there is no unique development in all nation-states. Have a look at Switzerland: towards the end of the 19th century, it was the country where ambitious women went to study and obtain university degrees. Despite being a safe haven for women searching to gain knowledge, women’s full suffrage was granted in Switzerland only in 1971. That is almost 80 years after New Zealand, 65 years after Finland and 50 years after many current EU Member States.

Looking at history helps to understand that the development of women’s rights in our European countries doesn’t follow a simple logic of always getting better in terms of more acceptance and more equal rights. It happens in some fields and it doesn’t in others. And this is not only true when looking at Switzerland’s history, it goes for all European countries.

We have come a long and successful way in many countries in terms of equal rights for men and women in Europe, including political rights. But it is only quite recently that the disparity between women and men in decision-making has come to be viewed as a challenge to democracy. At the close of the UN’s first world conference on women in Mexico in 1975, a then-adopted action plan stated that the increased and equal participation of women at all levels of decision-making would speed up development and foster peace.

It took the international community another 20 years to assert the fact that women’s rights were an integral part of human rights and to promote specific actions accordingly to ensure respect for these rights. That was done in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on women held in Beijing.

Two decades later, UN Member States committed to Sustainable Development Goal 5 “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”, a dedicated objective among the 17 SDGs to be achieved by 2030, as well as a cross-cutting thread underpinning all these Global Goals.

Equality at risk

Unfortunately, challenges and catastrophes put equality and human rights at risk. In situations of disaster and war, such as the current war in Ukraine or the recent devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, the burden of keeping life going on overwhelmingly falls on women. It is mainly them who protect and feed their families, serving their communities. How is it then that they are so easily overlooked, abandoned and abused, in such circumstances?

Added to the exploitation and sexual violence perpetrated against women in crisis and conflict situations, there is an astounding lack of awareness of their hygienic, reproductive and childcare needs. To address these challenges effectively and sustainably, it is imperative that women’s voices are heard and that women have an equal seat at the table. It is they who know what the stakes are and who can chart the proper course towards safety, peace and prosperity. That is not to say that the burden of righting the world’s wrongs is upon the shoulders of women, but that we cannot continue as we have for so long, neglecting the experience, expertise and potential of 50% of the population.

My question is: how can it be that in the European Union where nine in ten people think that promoting gender equality is important to ensure a fair and democratic society (Special Eurobarometer 465, 2017), it is not more effectively translated into action?

As local elected officials, we call for the swift adoption of the current proposal for a Directive combatting gender-based violence, decisive for European women, but also for the ones fleeing wars and disasters and finding refuge in our municipalities. We also count on MEPs to embrace these issues in their upcoming innovative humanitarian aid strategy, following the new Chapter 39 of the CEMR European Charter for Equality of women and men in local life.

As countless news articles show and we, as citizens, witness, it doesn’t matter if a woman is rich or poor, lesbian or straight, non-disabled or disabled, young or old, cisgender or trans, just being seen as or perceived as a woman exposes one to discrimination or be treated as less than human. Putting this to an end is a foremost duty of European governments and civil society organisations that refer to any democratic traditions in Europe. Athena or Aphrodite may maybe part of a fabled past, but all over the globe, their battles are not a myth.

This article was first published on Euractiv.

TARAN Stanislav
In Bridges of Trust, Latest, Projects and Programmes

Women in Ukraine

Women in Ukraine - News 2022

Courage and resilience have no gender, says Chernihiv city councillor

On the occasion of a workshop “Amplifying the voices of Ukrainian Women in post-war recovery” organised by Cities Alliance, CEMR was represented by Nataliia Kholchenkova, a member of the Chernihiv city council – a city besieged by Russia for 39 days in the spring of 2022. On this occasion, an interview was conducted by Cities Alliance with Nataliia Kholchenkova to discuss the city’s efforts to recover from war and the role women are playing in this recovery.

Chernihiv was besieged by Russia for 39 days in the spring of 2022. Since then, a recovery and reconstruction process has started. Could you please share the city’s experiences during and after the siege? How has the city tried to address the recovery issues, including the trauma and the loss that people have experienced?

Chernihiv is a city in the north of Ukraine. It is circa 100 km from the border with Russia and Belarus. From the very beginning of the war, the city was under attack. Chernihiv acted like a shield against Russian forces on the way to Kyiv. It was due to the resistance of our citizens that the enemy could not proceed. The city was not occupied, but it was blockaded from all sides and under heavy shelling for almost 40 days.

Due to this, Chernihiv was heavily ruined and damaged. Our only bridge that connected the city with Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine was destroyed. This meant we could not receive any humanitarian support and brought the city close to a humanitarian crisis. The city was without power, gas, and water for circa two weeks, and it was a really hard time for us.

The most terrible thing is that many residents were killed. Almost every day we received news that our neighbours, our friends, our relatives were killed due to the war. One of the main problems was how to bury people. Under constant shelling, we had no possibility to bury the bodies. There were no medicines available for some time, and we received information that some residents died because they could not get treatment for their chronic diseases.

I would like to emphasise the unity, bravery and resilience of all residents who supported each other and shared any available products and medicines. There was no hesitation on how to act: Men got the ammunition and weapons and went to join the armed forces or the local territorial defence units, and women did everything possible to support them with supplies, food, medicines, clothes, and so on.

What infrastructure and services were destroyed and most affected? How did the city adapt to the lack of them?

Because of the Russian invasion, social and critical infrastructure and residential housing were heavily damaged. Circa 850 multi-story buildings were partially damaged, while 150 multi-story buildings were heavily damaged due to direct hits from shelling. Five buildings were destroyed. About 2,000 private houses were damaged, and of those, 600 were totally destroyed.

People shared everything with each other, including housing, but the worst part was that there were no shelters. We were not prepared for the war. When the war started, we used simple basements in buildings or spaces underground to shelter. These were the places where we had to live, because we were under constant shelling, and we had no opportunity to even go find food. It was really dangerous.

As for critical infrastructure, we had to live for circa two weeks with no water. The city has a central water supply system that was damaged. Of a total of five pumping stations, two were totally destroyed and two were damaged. The whole city with almost 300,000 residents could not get water and the sewage system did not work. The heating system also did not work. The weather was cold with temperatures below zero degrees [Celsius] and some peaks of minus seven degrees. Also, there was no power and no possibility to use any electrical equipment. We could not call or get the news from the TV or the internet, so we were disconnected in the shelter just with the company of people. But we had to survive somehow.

How did people start living again? How did the recovery efforts start?

During the siege, a lot of residents tried to leave the city. It was a great risk and there were many cases of civilians killed while trying to leave because there was no humanitarian corridor or organised conditions to leave the city. There were cases of cars with signs indicating children and families on board that were shelled by the enemy. It was very dangerous, but people had to leave because it was also dangerous to stay in the city.

Before the war, we had circa 284,000 residents, and in the middle of March, there were circa 70,000 left. After the enemy left, during summer, people started returning to the city. In September we had about 220,000 residents back in the city. Of course, it was up to the local government to ensure the provision of all kinds of recovery measures and services. This also incentivised citizens to come back.

How was the process of livelihood recovery carried out when residents started coming back? With the majority of men going to combat, did women take up new or different roles?

I would like to emphasise the role of local authorities in the recovery process. We had to make quick decisions. The first priority was to repair multi-story buildings and housing for people to have a roof over their heads, and to repair the water supply and heating systems to be ready for autumn and winter. It was a great multitasking effort to provide all services at the same time, and it is still an ongoing process. After these interventions, we also started building shelters because we had to ensure the safety of our citizens. We equipped educational institutions and multi-story buildings with real shelters including ventilation and bio toilets.

One other very important action was the reopening of schools and the provision of offline education. We understood that parents wanted their children to get an education in schools, and this was the factor that motivated people to return. Now we have combined both offline and online education. We also worked to reopen kindergartens. All kindergartens were equipped with shelters so that when the alarm started, the children could be safe. Restoring education facilities was also a main condition for people to continue to work. If kindergartens do not work, we mothers and parents must be with the children at home.

As for livelihoods and jobs, it is still a big issue for us, because our industries and enterprises were located in the suburbs, which were the most heavily shelled areas. Many businesses relocated to more secure regions in the west of Ukraine, and the number of people without jobs unfortunately increased.

A lot of men went to the front line, while a lot of women had to take care of children. It is very difficult to combine work with childcare at home. This is still a problem, although there has been some progress at the community level. We have some women’s organisations that provide support; however, it is still very hard to get new jobs due to the many enterprises that closed or relocated. As we are on the border and with the war still ongoing, it is hard to persuade investors or businesses to start new activities in the region. So yes, it is a problem for all residents, but it is even more complicated for women.

Our task as local authorities are to provide economic support and to create the conditions for businesses to return and invest again in our city. We are now trying to cooperate with international partners to attract investors for future projects. These international partnerships are a good signal for our residents. It shows that they will have a future.

What has been the role of civil society and local organisations in the last months of reconstruction? Did women take up new roles in these organisations?

I would like to emphasise the role of volunteer organisations, many composed of women. These women provided a huge support to suffering people by delivering humanitarian aid, gathering supplies and food for our armed forces, and helping with childcare and education.

The role of education is very important. It is a great psychological support and aid for our children who have to endure this terrible war. The war has not only caused physical injuries but also psychological trauma to all residents, especially women. For women, it has been more complicated because they have a lot of pressure to keep their children safe and healthy while also having a job. In the case of war, this responsibility and pressure has doubled or tripled. So, the role of women has been incredible.

One more thing that I can say for sure is that bravery and resilience have no gender, and that women are acting as leaders on all front lines and battlefields: educational, cultural, and health.

You mentioned psychological trauma. Are there mental health programmes that have been started by the city or local organisations to support the healing process for the city and its residents?

Yes, we have municipal programmes under the Department of Social Politics and a service for people who remain alone. We also have ongoing partnerships with international organisations that are part of the UN. At the same time, with the war still ongoing and with the constant threat of new shelling, women feel like they do not yet have time for psychological aid and to take care of their health. It is our task as local governments to ensure that they are not only healthy physically, but also psychologically. We still have to persuade them that we should also pay attention to ourselves and our mental condition and that we should be healthy for our children, colleagues, men, and the city.

How is the situation now in Chernihiv? What does the city need the most at the moment?

We have managed to advance the recovery and the restoration of some services. There are less and less power outages. We have provided schools and all critical infrastructure with generators to prevent power outages, and we have helped businesses also get generators. We are organising activities for children. More has to be done. Street lighting, for instance, is still not working due to power saving, and around 5 pm it is dark already in the streets.

What the city needs the most right now is financial support to cover larger-scale reconstruction. With the municipal budget, we have repaired the small and medium-sized damage to buildings, but we cannot cover the repair of heavy damages. For instance, the next project we would like to implement is the reconstruction of two water pumping stations, but we cannot cover that with the local government budget. This is also an issue with the damaged public transport system. We would like to incorporate new European technological solutions and innovations to create a better future for our residents and to improve their quality of life.

I can definitely say that women’s participation in all kinds of activities and decision-making processes in our country is stronger now than it was before due to cooperation with, and examples of, international and women’s organisations. It is a part of our European integration process and it is very important for us to continue with such cooperation processes. It gives us strength and spirit to unite as women following the example of the European Union, where there are many strong women in politics, economy and business. We should continue in this direction.

Nataliia Kholchenkova is the Head of the International Relations and Investments Department of Chernihiv City Council. Since 2020, she has also been Head of the Permanent Deputy Commission on Regulations, Legality, Corruption, Freedoms and Rights of Citizens and Prevention of Corruption and Head of the Deputy Association “For Equal Rights and Opportunities” of Chernihiv. She holds a PhD in the speciality of Secondary Education from T.H. Shevchenko National University “Chernihiv Collegium”, where she was also an Associate Professor. She is a member of the board of the Chernihiv Women’s Union and a member of the Association of Ukrainian Cities (AUC) and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions. She is the PLATFORMA spokesperson for AUC.

BORDELOT Federica
In Gender equality, Impact community Society, Latest

International Women’s Rights Day

International Women’s Rights Day - News 2023

International Women’s Rights Day 2023: Five new Charter articles illustrated through local actions

To celebrate 2023 International Women’s Rights Day, CEMR is publishing a series of impactful initiatives carried out by local and regional governments to promote gender justice. These projects embody the updated European Charter for Equality of Women and Men in Local Life as they show how five of its nine new articles can be put into practice. Together, they represent an inspiring step towards a more gender-equal Europe.

The updated Charter is a result of several years of reflection and collaboration which started in 2021 on the occasion of its 15th anniversary. The nine new articles cover and expand on the following topics: sustainable development, cyber violence, violence against elected representatives, intersectionality, flexible working, digital inclusion, sexual and reproductive health rights, climate change and gender-responsive civil preparedness and disaster response.

The over 2,000 commitments to the Charter made by territories in 36 European countries prior to 2023 remain valid. The existing signatories are, however, invited to renew their commitment to the Charter by adopting the new articles and integrating them into their future equality action plans as relevant. Any new commitments to the Charter will be to the updated text, from January 2023 and in function of the availability of the text in local languages.

While the updated Charter has been translated into 28 languages, the transcriptions are still undergoing a quality check with the national coordinators of the Charter in CEMR’s network. They will be posted to the online Observatory and CEMR’s website once they are approved.

The updated Charter is available currently in English, French and easy-to-read English versions.

Any questions regarding the update or the actions highlighted in this series can be directed to contact@ccre-cemr.org or the relevant national coordinator for the Charter in your country

TARAN Stanislav
In Bridges of Trust, Bridges of Trust, Governance, Governance, Latest, Local democracy, Local democracy, Projects and Programmes, Projects and programmes, Publications

War on Ukraine first declaration

European local and regional leaders reaffirm solidarity with Ukraine and call for peace, justice, and reconstruction.

Read full declaration

On the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, local and regional leaders across Europe renew their strongest support for Ukraine, its people, and its democratic institutions. 

Condemning Aggression 
The war has brought devastation to civilians, elected representatives, and essential infrastructure. The abduction of Ukrainian mayors and the ongoing detention of five of them highlight the assault on democracy and the rule of law. These acts are condemned in the strongest terms, with urgent calls for the immediate release of the detained leaders. 

Solidarity and Support 

Local and regional governments across Europe stand firmly by Ukraine. Partnerships such as the Bridges of Trust project, the Eastern Partnership programme, and the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine are mobilising resources, expertise, and cooperation. These initiatives are not only helping communities recover but also preparing Ukraine for its future as a full member of the European Union. 

Shared Values 
This declaration is a reminder that Europe’s foundations rest on peace, democracy, and respect for international law. As the war continues, European leaders join the international community in reaffirming Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in urging the Russian Federation to end its illegal war. 

A year into this unjustified conflict, the commitment of Europe’s municipalities, cities, and regions is unwavering: to stand with Ukraine, to defend shared values, and to contribute to rebuilding a peaceful, democratic future. 

Read the declaration here 

For more information, contact: 

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